Pneumatic load carrier



Feb. 6, 1923. 11,444,157

F L. LEE. PNEUMATIC LOAD CARRIER. FILED SEPT. 7, 1920 1, I INVENTQOR. vgrTommy.

Patented Feb, 6, 1923 Ui lllTli-i .1")-

FRIEDERICK L. LEE, 0F SPOKANE, WASHINGTON.

PNEUMATIC LOAD CARRIER.

Application filed September '7, 1920. Serial. No.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that FREDERICK L. LEE, a citizenof the United States of America, residing at Spokane, in the county ofSpokane and State of Washington, has invented new and usefulImprovements in Pneumatic Load Carriers, of which the following is aspecification.

This invention pertains to pneumatic load carriers and has for itsobject to provide an air cushion for loads to be carried by man, such asa knap-sack carried by a soldier and generally for any load to becarried and be supported by the shoulders.

Generally speaking a pneumatic tube enclosed by a suitable covering andthen cured to the under side of the strap that ordinarily sustains theload whereby the pneumatic tube comes in contact with the person of thecarrier instead of the strap and orcupies a space between the person andthe strap.

F or the purpose of illustrating the invention I have made anapplication ot the same to a knap-sack and the details of theconstruction will be hereinafter given and illustrated in theaccompanying drawings in which Figure 1 is an assembled view of theinvention shown attached to the straps of the knapsack.

Figure 2 is a view of the invention detached with a portion of thecoverii'ig broken Figure is a broken-away sectional view of thepneumatic tube: 1

In afdetail description in which like numerals refer to like partsthroughout the several views an elongated rubber tube 10 is providedwith a small. tubular connection 11. About midway between the ends l2 ofthe tube 10 and the small tube 11 the walls of the tube 11 arevulcanized together as at '13 forming air chambers let which containmerely the amount of air that would ordinarlly be forced therein bybringing the walls of the tube together when the tube 11 is inflatedsuflicient to hold the tube in an expanded position, whereby thechambers 14 would be formed about as shown in Figure 3.

The construction shown in Figure 8 is then enclosed in a suitablecovering, preferably water proof, such as an oiled cloth 15 in which ismounted an eyelet 16. Latch straps 1'? are then placed transverselv onthe covering 15 through which the straps 18 of the knap-sack 19 areinserted so that the assembled mechanism 20 occupies a position beneaththe straps 1h. 'llhe small tubes 11 will then occupy a position on themans body, where the knapsack is taken on, on his front near the. collarbone. The carrier will then inflate the tube 10 through the small tube11 from the lungs, to the desired pressure and then told and tie thetube ll as indicated at 1'1. Figure l.

The shape of the tube .10 may be varied to suit the character of theload carried.

What is claimed is A pneumatic load carrier comprising a rubber tubewith means for filling and re taining the air near the center thereof,said tube having its walls vulcanized together about midway between thecurls of the tube and the center thereoi. a =overing for said tube andmeans for connectin h bled mechanism beneath the of the load to becarried In testimony whereof. I my in the presence of a witness.

lJRIEDERICK L, ljl lll.

s1 gna t 1 Witness L. L. WESTFALL.

